He said he struck the shark around eight times, and when he knuckle-punched the shark in the eye, the animal spit the board out, throwing Horton a few feet into the air. He was able to climb back onto the board and paddle safely to shore.

Apart from a few scratches, Horton escaped uninjured. Back on shore, friends and tourists shared a group hug with Horton and celebrated his incredible narrow escape. A beach visitor even gave him $50 and told him to “buy a bottle.”

(KHON1)

Now, Horton has the ultimate souvenir from his terrifying ordeal: A huge crescent-shaped bite mark in his surfboard.

“I’m going to put it up on my wall,” he said.

Could you survive a shark attack? (Or treat a snake bite, or escape an avalanche alive?) Take Parade’s Ultimate Survival Quiz!